Monday, 1 August 2011

July 2011: This month, we have mostly been wearing...

Another month, another selection of products we've been particularly loving.

Gemma

1. NARS Multi Protect Primer SPF 30(£24)*
It's been hot and sunny for at least part of this month, and I've really appreciated the high SPF and lightweight feeling of this most excellent primer. My tube is running a little low, and I'll definitely repurchase when it runs out completely - so rare to find a high SPF primer that doesn't leave a white cast, or sit heavily on the skin.

2. Crown Brush Metal Madness Palette(£24.99)
As a lover of metallic eyeshadows, my heart flips a little every time I open this palette. 88 metallic finish eyeshadows, in flattering colours, arranged in tiny little dots. Perfect. I've actually had to force myself to use other eyeshadows!

3. Dove Spa Thermal Therapy Night Cream(£30/50ml)*
This gel textured night cream is incredibly light, and incredibly hydrating. I'll be writing up a full review soon, but so far I'm impressed with how well hydrated my skin feels in the morning, with absolutely no residue or heaviness.

4. Nailtiques Protein Formula 2(£15.50/15ml)
When my nails started peeling, this was the one product that everyone recommended. And it's incredible - it's been slowly repairing my nails over the past month. It's not an overnight miracle, and you really do need to apply it fairly frequently to get the benefits, but if your nails are weak and peeling, this is definitely worth a shot.

5. The Body Shop Satsuma Body Polish (£9/200ml)
The zesty sweet satsuma scent the Body Shop use in their products is absolutely gorgeous. It reminds me of using the original satsuma bubbles as a teenager, and never fails to make me feel clean and refreshed after use. This body polish is a wonderfully gentle scrub - it does contain rough particles, but there really aren't that many in your average palmful. It foams gently on the skin, too, making this a perfect everyday shower product that keeps you both clean and smooth.

Sarah

1. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (£11.75/100ml)*
I've renewed my relationship with this after receiving a new tube. It's tremendously satisfying to use with the cloth, and I've found that it leaves my skin very calm, soft and clean, even when it's oily and irritated. For the price, it's an incredible bargain. Try it, if you haven't already.

2.M Lab Anti-Aging handcare SPF20 (US$60/104ml)*
This was sold at Harrods, but now seems to have disappeared from their site. I've been wearing this at night with a pair of cotton gloves, as I've found my hands getting particularly dry this month. Normally that's a winter phenomenon, but whatever the season this rich, emollient cream is good at restoring elasticity and smoothness.

3. Philosophy Eternal Grace (£32/60ml)
I love most if not all of Philosophy's Grace series, but this is the one I've been reaching for most often this month. It's a light, breezy scent perfectly balanced between floral and citrus, and guaranteed to make you feel fresh and cheerful.

4. Stila Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30(£22/50ml)
A light-textured, blendable TM with decent coverage and a good SPF for summer days. It also comes in a very practical squeezy tube - ideal for rushed mornings.

5. Andrew Collinge Weightless Volume Mousse (£4.29/200ml)*
In an attempt to inject a bit of volume I've recently started running a small amount of this through my hair near the roots before blow-drying. It definitely makes a difference, and is light and non-sticky. Unlike some other mousses I've tried, there's no sacrifice on hair texture with this one either.